The American Horse Council’s 2009 Rolapp Award was presented to Kentucky congressman Ben Chandler for his outstanding support of the horse industry. The award was presented to Chandler June 16 at a congressional reception in the Capitol during the American Horse Council’s National Issues Forum in Washington, D.C.

The award is presented in honor of Rich Rolapp, the former president of the AHC who passed away in 1993. Previous award winners include Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, congressmen Hal Rogers, Jim McCrery, Bart Gordon, and congresswoman Karen Thurman, among others.

While presenting the award, Jay Hickey, president of the AHC, said, “This year’s winner is most deserving. The horse industry very much appreciates Mr. Chandler’s support, hard work, and tenacity and is pleased to present him with the Rolapp Award.”

Chandler received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Kentucky. Prior to this election to Congress he served two terms as Kentucky’s Attorney General. In 1995 he became the youngest attorney general in the nation and was reelected without opposition in 1999.

“When he first came to Congress, Mr. Chandler was a member of the House Agriculture Committee, where he was very helpful in extending federal disaster relief to horse breeders,” said Hickey.

In January 2007, Chandler was selected by his Democratic colleagues to serve on the House Committee on Appropriations, where he pursued initiatives that promote the long-term economic growth of his district and his constituents.

“Mr. Chandler has been very supportive of bringing the World Equestrian Games to his district of Lexington in 2010 and has worked overtime to secure federal assistance for the infrastructure needed to host the games and make them run smoothly,” said Hickey. “He understands the importance of the $102 billion horse industry not only to Kentucky but to the nation.”